Jay’s Jargon: Southwick heats up in redzone, Harper on-pace for Doug Martin-type season

The deadzone comes alive
- Quarterback Joe Southwick was much better from 20 yards and in against New Mexico. Boise State entered the game just 6-of-12 from inside the redzone on the season with only three of those opportunities turning into touchdowns. In the first half alone against New Mexico, the Broncos were 4-for-4, including two touchdowns passes from Southwick.

Southwick inside the redzone
Games 1-3: 4-13, 31 yds, 1 td, 2 int, 45.2 qb eff.
Game 4: 6-10, 45 yds, 3 td, 0 int, 196.8 qb eff.

Miller grabbing more attention
- Wide receiver Matt Miller had a season-high 12 targets and tied a personal career-high with nine receptions. As the season progresses, Miller has seen increased attention in the passing game.

Targets
Game 1 - Michigan State: 7 targets, 2 receptions
Game 2 - Miami (OH): 8 targets, 7 receptions
Game 3 - BYU: 11 targets, 7 receptions
Game 4- New Mexico: 12 targets, 9 receptions

- Miller currently has a team-high 25 catches this season and is on pace for 81.

Single-season receptions (most in BSU history)
1. Jeremy Childs (2007) - 82
2. Matt Miller (2012) - 81*
3. Titus Young (2009) - 79
4. Mike Wilson (1992) - 76 
5. Jeremy Childs (2008) - 72

*Projected total

- In addition, if Miller finishes the season with 81 catches, it would give him 143 for his career. That number would be good for the seventh most in school-history, leaving the sophomore just 86 receptions short of Austin Pettis’ school-record of 229.

Career reception leads (BSU history)
1. Austin Pettis (2007-10), 229
2. Titus Young (2007-10), 204
3. Don Hutt (1970-73), 189
4. Jeremy Childs (2006-08), 168
5. Ryan Ikebe (1993-96), 162
6. Mike Wilson (1990-93), 159
7. Matt Miller (2011-current), 143*
t8. Jay Swillie (1999-02), 140
t8. Eric Andrade (1983-84/86-87), 140

*Projected total at end of season

Have no Percy
- With a team-high 13 stops, senior linebacker J.C. Percy leads the Broncos with 38 tackles this season. If he maintains his current pace, he would finish the year with 123 tackles, the most by a Broncos since Scott Monk recorded 140 in 1992.

A big day for Jay
- Runningback Jay Ajayi rushed for a career-high 118 yards on just six carries. He broke runs of 71, 8, 1, 8, 14 and 16 yards and became the first freshman to rush for 100-yards in a game since Matt Kaiserman against Hawaii in 2009.

D.J. knows how to Dougie
- With 98 net rushing yards on 19 carries, senior runningback D.J. Harper just missed his third straight 100-yard game (he actually gain 105 rushing yards but suffered two negative runs for a loss of seven yards). With 380 rushing yards this fall, he is nearly on pace to duplicate former Boise State runningback Doug Martin’s 2011 season.

Doug Martin, 2011
263 carries, 1,299 yards, 16 touchdowns, 7 100-yard games

D.J. Harper, 2012*
263 carries, 1,235 yards, 10 touchdowns, 7 100-yard games

*Projected total

What a rush
- After surrendering 213 yards on 52 carries to Michigan State in the season-opener, the Broncos allowed just 188 yards on 62 carries against Miami (OH) and BYU combine. But New Mexico gashed Boise State for 330 rushing yards, which was the most since allowing 395 to Nevada in 2007.

Most rushing yards allowed (coach Petersen era)
1. Nevada, 2007 - 395
2. New Mexico, 2012 - 330
3. East Carolina, 2007 - 322
4. Fresno State, 2009 - 320
5. Nevada, 2010 - 269

- Moreover, Boise State allowed four rushing touchdowns against New Mexico. The last time the Broncos allowed that many in a game was against East Carolina on Dec. 23, 2007.
- On Oct. 14, 2007, Nevada found the endzone six times against Boise State, the highest total during the coach Petersen era.

Can’t pass the test
- While they had success on the ground, New Mexico passed for just 44 yards against Boise State. It marked the second straight game the Broncos have held an opponent under 100-yards through the air.

BSU Pass defense (last two games combine)
15-31, 105 yds, 0 td, 3 int, 57.5 qb eff.